Compare towns
Plainfield vs Winchendon vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainfield | Winchendon | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
10,440Highest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,255±$163Lowest 29% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #269 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Winchendon | — |
| High school in town | — | Murdock High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.